Image capturing apparatus

Abstract

All image capturing apparatus includes an interval shooting section (51) that performs an interval shooting process, a lighten compositing section (54) that performs a lighten compositing process using images captured one by one by the interval shooting process, and a composite-image-in-progress displaying section (55) that, when a first operation is performed, causes a composite image in a first memory area, which is used as a compositing buffer for the lighten compositing process, to be displayed on an LCD monitor without causing the interval shooting process to be stopped.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image capturing apparatus including an image sensor, a memory, and a display, the image capturing apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 perform an interval shooting process that is a process that repeatedly performs exposure of and reading from the image sensor at predetermined intervals to capture a plurality of images one by one, and 
 perform a lighten compositing process using a first image and a second image of the plurality of images captured by the interval shooting process one by one, the first image being an initial image among the plurality of images, the second image being captured subsequent to the first image, and store a first result of the lighten compositing process as a composite image in the memory, and, as for each image of third and following images, the third image being captured subsequent to the second image, perform the lighten compositing process using the each image and the composite image stored in the memory, and store a second result of the lighten compositing process as a first new composite image in the memory, wherein 
 
 the interval shooting process includes a manual focusing mode and an automatic focusing mode, 
 when the automatic focusing mode is activated, the circuitry is configured to capture each image of the second and following images using a result of automatic focusing used when the first image is captured, 
 when a predetermined operation is performed, the lighten compositing process is performed without stopping the interval shooting process, and 
 after the predetermined operation is performed, the lighten compositing process is performed using a fourth image acquired first after the predetermined operation is performed and a fifth image acquired next by the interval shooting process, and a third result is stored as a second new composite image in the memory, and with respect to subsequent images acquired thereafter, the lighten compositing process is performed using the each subsequent image and the second new composite image stored in the memory, and the processing of storing a result as a new composite image in the memory is repeatedly performed. 
 
     
     
       2. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, each time a new image is captured by the interval shooting process, output the captured image as an image file. 
     
     
       3. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, each time a new image is captured by the interval shooting process, output as an image file, a composite image stored in the memory in progress at a point in time. 
     
     
       4. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, each time a new image is captured by the interval shooting process, produce a movie file including the captured image as one frame of a movie. 
     
     
       5. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, each time a new image is captured by the interval shooting process, produce a movie file including a composite image stored in the memory in progress at a point in time as one frame of a movie. 
     
     
       6. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, when a first operation is performed, display on the display a composite image stored in the memory without stopping the interval shooting process. 
     
     
       7. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a release button that is a two-position button, wherein
 the first operation is an operation to press the release button to a first position of the release button. 
 
     
     
       8. The image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a release button that is a two-position button, wherein
 a first operation is an operation to press the release button to a first position of the release button. 
 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 performing, using circuitry, an interval shooting process that is a process that repeatedly performs exposure of and reading from an image sensor at predetermined intervals to capture a plurality of images one by one; 
 performing, using the circuitry, a lighten compositing process using a first image and a second image of the plurality of images captured by the interval shooting process one by one, the first image being an initial image among the plurality of images, the second image being captured subsequent to the first image, and storing a first result of the lighten compositing process as a composite image in a memory, and, as for each image of a third and following images, the third image being captured subsequent to the second image, performing the lighten compositing process using the each image and the composite image stored in the memory, and storing a second result of the lighten compositing process as a first new composite image in the memory, the interval shooting process including a manual focusing mode and an automatic focusing mode; 
 when the automatic focusing mode is activated, capturing each image of the second and following images using a result of automatic focusing used when the first image is captured; 
 when a predetermined operation is performed, performing the lighten compositing process without stopping the interval shooting process; and 
 after the predetermined operation is performed, performing the lighten compositing process using a fourth image acquired first after the predetermined operation is performed and a fifth image acquired next by the interval shooting process, and a third result is stored as a second new composite image in the memory, and with respect to subsequent images acquired thereafter, the lighten compositing process is performed using the each subsequent image and the second new composite image stored in the memory, and the processing of storing a result as a new composite image in the memory is repeatedly performed. 
 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 performing an interval shooting process that is a process that repeatedly performs exposure of and reading from an image sensor at predetermined intervals to capture a plurality of images one by one; 
 performing a lighten compositing process using a first image and a second image of the plurality of images captured by the interval shooting process one by one, the first image being an initial image among the plurality of images, the second image being captured subsequent to the first image, and storing a first result of the lighten compositing process as a composite image in a memory, and, as for each image of a third and following images, the third image being captured subsequent to the second image, performing the lighten compositing process using the each image and the composite image stored in the memory, and storing a second result of the lighten compositing process as a first new composite image in the memory, the interval shooting process including a manual focusing mode and an automatic focusing mode; 
 when the automatic focusing mode is activated, capturing each image of the second and following images using a result of automatic focusing used when the first image is captured; 
 when a predetermined operation is performed, performing the lighten compositing process without stopping the interval shooting process; and 
 after the predetermined operation is performed, performing the lighten compositing process using a fourth image acquired first after the predetermined operation is performed and a fifth image acquired next by the interval shooting process, and a third result is stored as a second new composite image in the memory, and with respect to subsequent images acquired thereafter, the lighten compositing process is performed using the each subsequent image and the second new composite image stored in the memory, and the processing of storing a result as a new composite image in the memory is repeatedly performed.